Let’s not Trump the world’s climate deal

People around the world who care about nature have reason to be more worried than before. Mr Donald Trump’s election as the next president of the United States spells nothing good.
Then again, this might just be what is needed to jump-start the masses into action.
For too long the job of taking better care of our planet has been seen as one better left to governments and the rest of the powerful. The startling outcome of the US election is as much a result as anything else of people forgetting that this responsibility is primarily theirs. Those who care should make their votes count.
Politicians and business leaders will only start acting with proper enthusiasm once convinced that ordinary folk are keeping a beady eye on them, and that they will decide whether they get into positions of power or not.
Government and business have indeed come a long way in showing greater concern about humanity’s contribution to climate change and its general impact on nature. The agreement signed in Paris last year by almost all countries and the massive strides in innovation business have been making towards generating cleaner energy are evidence of this.
But whatever has been achieved, it still falls far short of what is needed to avert disaster. Weather patterns are changing dramatically and the weight of scientific opinion is that we humans have a heavy hand in this.
Mr Trump’s threat to withdraw America from the Paris accord and whatever else he says and does will not undo the advances already made. It will however put a (hopefully temporary) drag on progress, and this the world simply cannot afford.
What is in fact needed is for the voting and consuming masses to start making their voices heard. Those who care must begin to out-thunder those who don’t.